Elevator transmission system



M. F. HILL ELEVATOR TRANSMISSIOfi SYSTEM Filed Oct. 19, 1922 3 Sheets-Shqgt 1 Nov. 3, 1925.

M. F. HILL ELEVATOR TRANSMISSION SYSTEM Filed Oct. 19. 1922 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Inventor JL M #w/ Patented Nov. 3, 12255.

UNITED MYRON F. HILL. OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

ELEVATOR TRANSMISSION SYSTEM.

Application filed. October 19, 1922.

To whom it may concern:

Be it known that .l. hlYRON F. HILL. a citizen of the United States, residing at 13 ll est 9th Street, New Yorlc city; in the State of New York, have invented certain ne and useful Improvements in Elevator Transmission Systems, of which the following is a specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forn'iing a part hereof.

My invention relates to fluid pumps and motors for developing and using power,v one movable with relation to the other, combined with means of a novel character to transmit the power from one member to the other for the purpose of opening and closing elevator doors in elevator shafts.

It also includes a plurality of such pumps adapted to supply pressure and power to eacn oi? a plurality of individual elevator motors.

it is specifically applied to elevator door and gate operation, though it is capable of use in relation to any moving car and relatively movable or stationary power plant operating under similar conditions.

It is of particular value for use with air or other compressible and resilient fluid as a medium capable of being conveyed to distant points without great loss of energ includes a pressure transier or air loadin5;- -cleviee. with two members, one movable with relation to the other, one connected to 1: pump and the other to a motor. which when brought into a predetermined range of registration automatically open up a sage-way tor a pressure fluid from the pump to the l'llOtOl'. to supply the latter with power, thus providing charging periods and to help operate the motor while charging.

it also. includes reservoirs to provide pressure storage capacity to allow operation preferably of both pump and motor in the interiors between charging periods.

it includes pumps operated by the power that operates the cars, and in elevator operation means to operate a pump in one disirct on of the car only, and that dir ction the zip-trip of the elevator car, for reasons hereinafter enumerated. In such case the pump or preferably an air compressor,while it may be mounted on a car, is preferably Serial No. 595,509.

at the bottom or top of the shaft. It on the car, it may be operated by a cable lined to the top and bottom or": the shaft. I preier. however. to mount the compressor at the top of the shaft and provide a cable whose ends are fixed to the car. This removes the weight of the compressor from the car.

transfer or loading device, on line 2-2. r Jig. 4. i

F g. 3 s a vertical elevation of the same. F g. 4 is a section on line 4. 4, Fig. 2. Fig. 5 is a section of parts on line 5 5,

Fig. 3.

Fig. 6 is a top view of parts shown in Figs. .2, 3 and ii" and brackets for mounting them.

Fig; 7 is a view of a n'iounting clamp from the right hand side of Fig. 6.

8 is a diagram view of a door-operatmg equipment. '2

Fig.0 is a view of a sheave and cable driving a pun'ip or air compressor.

Fig. 10 is a section ott-he clutch for driving a compressor in one direction.

11 shows a pressure regulator.

Fi 12 shows an unloader for the air conipressor to prevent it from creating too high a pressure in the storage tank. 2 '7 Figure 13 shows a diagram of my system with: the air compressors in their preferred location.

in Fig. l'isillustrated a series of elevator cars 13. 14, 15.

Upon them are reservoirs 16, 17, 18 adapted to supply power to operate members on the car to perform any desired work. A. motor 19 (see Fig. 8) may utilize such. power to open and close a car door.

In an elevator system each car may be operated by any well known system. I have illustrated the usual cable 2-0, drum 21, and electric motor indicated at 22; and the overweighted counter balance 23.

Each car may have a small cable 24, both ends attached to the car and running over sheaves 25 and 26. Either sheave may drive a compressor 27. In this way each car drives a compressor to supply the power to open and close its doors with. The compressors may be at the top or bottom of the shaft.

The work performed by each elevator va ries widely from time to time, and sometimes from trip to trip, vhile the average work of a series of elevators is more uniform. By combining the work of the compressors so that each delivers to all cars, the size of each compressor is reduced from the maximum requirements of any one car to the maximum average of a plurality of cars.

This average varies, being high during rush hours and low in between rush hours. A large general reservoir that can be charged during normal hours and not be too far exhausted duringrush hours, further reduces the maximum compressor size an l capacity demanded.

Each compressor 27 is connected by piping 28 to a general reservoir '29. which is preferably connected also by piping 30 to the fixed transfer or channeled elements 31 located at the top doors 31 to which the cars run, and by piping 32 to thetransfer or channeled elements 33 at the bottom doors 33 at which the cars stop. a

Upon each car is the complementary transfer member or shoe 35, which when it comes into conjunction with the fixed member 31 or 33 constitutes the transfer device above referred to.

These devices are best located so that when a car has stopped within the stopping range at a floor level provided by the transfer device. say fro-m four inches or so below the floor level to a similar distance above the floor level, they will transfer air. And if the car passes by this floor and its door. it still will receive some air while passing in either direction; And if it is coming to a stop at this point it travels so slowly as to allow a plentiful charge of air to be delivered thru the transfer device, even if the car passes the floor and the transfer device ceases to operate while the ear is at full stop.

The preferred form of transfer device is shown more clearly and in detail in Figs. 2, 3, 4., 5 and 6. It comprises the fixed member say 33 which may be a channeled element with flared ends 34 adapted to. receive a loosely hung shoe 35 mounted on the mov ing unit, in this case the elevator car. Va rious forms of transfer devices lie within the scope of my invention, performing the same transfer function. I prefer, however, the arrangement and forms shown. The shoe 35 is tapered to enter the flared channeled element easily. It is hung on link arms 36, 37, pivoted loosely in the bracket 38 upon pivots 39, allowing lateral freedom.

The bracket 38 may be secured to the cross beam l0 or other member of a car, so that the shoe travels with the car up and down the shaft, or elsewhere as the case may be. The shoe is held by a resilient member or spring l1 in such a position that it tends to enter the channel with the least amount of side guidance, yet as wear of gibs, guiding shoes and rails affects its position, it stillcan enter easily.

Pipe connections 12, capable of being flexed or of allowing the necessary freedom of movement of the shoe. connect the various shoes to their individual tanks or reservoirs 16, 17, 18. Each tank is then connected by a pipe 43 (Fig. 8) to any suitable motor 19 operated by fluid pressure, and regulated by a valve 14 for stopping and starting it. The details of certain constructions of such devices are well known and form no part of this invention except as a motor unit suitable to perform desirable work on the car, utilizing the fluid power transferred to it.

The channeled member 33 has a valved?) opened by the shoe 35 when it enters the channel to allow the air to flow into the shoe. -This valve is preferably a hardened cone and engages the edge or a narrow chamber of the hole 46 in the hardened disk When opened, air from the chamber 4L8 fed by the pipe connection 30 or 32 passes towards the shoe and if any one of the holes 4-9 over-laps the hole 50 and if air pressure behind the poppet valves or balls 51 is substantially lower, the air lifts the ball that it reaches and enters the chamber 52 in the shoe and passes thru the pipe 42, another check valve 42 and to the tank 16, until the pressure evens up. Light springs then close the valves.

An air-tight engagement between the valve 4-5 and the shoe is provided. The movable tightener 5 1, provided with piston rin 's to prevent leakage over its outside wall is caused by air pressure behind it (to the left in Fig. 2) to press against the plate Both members are preferably hardened and ground, and the plate 55 greased as it passes the felt pads 56 fastened in oil pockets 57,supplies a greasy seal to assist tightness. The air pressure areas on the front and back of the tightener may be varied to secure the desired pressure for air-tightness.

The valve 45 is opened and closed by a lever 58 (see Fig. 5) having a yoke 59engaging the wings 60 on the stem of the valve. The lever is pivoted in the channel casting 33 by meansof its shaft portion 61 issuing thru the stulhng box 62. Keyed to it is the external lever member 63 having the engaging roller 64, which, as shown in Fig. 3, is shoved aside by the shoe 35 when it enters the channel. This operation is delayed until the hole registers, or is about to register, with some hole 49. The portions of the shoe that engage the roller are cut away at for thispurpose. The end 66 of the arm 63 is provided wit-h a compression spring 67 to close the valve 4-5 when the shoe passes out of the channel. The cover plate 68 renders the valve parts accessible. The ring 69 prevents the tightener 5st from falling into the channel when the shoe has left it.

The ends 70 of the hard plates may be bent as shown, to act as spring butters when the shoe strikes the flared mouth of a channeled element while entering. The fixed channel member may be fastened to any stationary portion of the shaft. It is convenient to clamp it to the side rail 70 shown in Figs. 6 and 7 the hook member 70 being rovided with nuts "('0 to bind the brackets 0 of the channel to the flange of the rail.

One of the features of my invention is the operation of an air compressor by an elevator car when it is caused to travel by the counterweight thru lack of even balance. Asthe counterweight is usually heavier than the car during normal running, I provide means for operating the compressor during the ascent of the car, so that the counterweight usually supplies the power to operate the compressor, and the compressor merely has a faint dampening effect on the cars action without affecting counterweight relations. The compressor operating sheave 26 is shownin Fig. 9. The cable 24 is wound around it and its companion sheave 71 several times to provide sufficient traction. The sheave 71 is pressed away from the sheave 26 by compression springs 72 to put the desired tension on the cable 24 and allow for its stretch. The rope may first travel downward onto the sheave, at 72, then run underneath sheave 71, then back over sheave 26, and so on. finally passing oii at 72" and then upward again.

The shaft of the sheave 26 may have a disk 73 (see Fig. 10) and clutch rollers 74- to grip the ring 75 which may drive the compressor 27. The ring 7 5 may be iournailed in the bracket 76 on the base. l Vhen the sheave 26 rotates with the ascent of the car, the rollers 74 bind between the members 73 and 7 5 causing one to turn the other. When the sheave 26 is reversed during the descent of the car, the rollers are released, they no longer bind between the elements 73 and 7 5, and the compressor is not caused to do work.

The main reservoir is supplied, of course, with a safety valve 77 (see Fig. 1). To prevent this from blowing off continuously when demands on the system are light, I provide an unloader for the air compressors. This consists of cutting off their intakes. In Fig. 12 is shown a compressor intake of a compressor 27, provided with a valve seat member 78 adapted to be screwed intothe intake opening. Fastened by side bars 79 to this seat member is a top member 80 carrying a metal bellows 81, which in turn carries valve 82, shown seated on the member 78. The pipe 83 supplies air pressure to expand the bellows to close the valve and. topermit the escape of the air so that spring 84 can lift and thereby open the valve. The pipe 83 is shown in Figs. 1 and 11 connected to a pressure gauge 85. This gauge has a diaphragm 86 subject to the pressure of the main reservoir 29 thru the pipe 87, and this pressure is opposed by 2-. spring 88. Under proper balance, the valve stem 89, with its opening 90 connects the pipe 83 as shown to the vent 91 into the 2111'. When this occurs the air in the metal bellows of the unloader is released and the valve 82 is opened, When the pressure from the pipe 87 rises too high the diaphragm is pressed to the left, the opening 90 in the stem 89 connects the pipe 83 to the passageway 92 to the high pressure chamber and pipe 87, so that pressure flows thru the pipe 83 to the bellows 81 and shuts off the intake of the compressor.

In Fig. 8, the motor 19 may rotate a screw 97 threaded thru a carriage 98 which may run on wheels 99 between rails 100 and may carry an arm 101 with wings 102 to engage a suitable post or projection of a shaft door or elevator gate or both. Or any other air engine or motor or air device to operate a door or gate, or perform other useful functions may be substituted.

While I have described my invention in the form in which, for this application, I preferto use it, it includes within its scope the various novel features shown or described, alone or in combinations that are novel and useful, with one or more of each other, particularly as pointed out in the fol lowing claims 1. In an elevator system, an elevator shaft, a shaft door, a floor level thereat, an elevator car, a floor level therein, an air supply and conduits for the shaft, air operated devices for the car, conduits on the car leading to the air operated devices, and transfer devices between the shaft conduits and the car conduits to pass compressed air from one to the other, including a member on the shaft and a member on the car located to inter connect to transfer air within a given stopping range with respect to said floorlevel and means on the car to stop it at said floor level within said range, said parts cooperating to transfer air at different points within said range.

2. In an elevator system, an elevator shaft, a shaft door, a floor level thereat, an elevator car, a floor level therein, an air supply and conduitsfor the shaft, air operated devices for the car, conduits on the car leading to the air operated devices, and transfor devices between the shaft conduits and t 1e car conduits to pass compressed air from one to the other, including a member on the shaft and a member on the car, located to interconnect to transfer air, being auto matically opened in either direction of travel of said car.

3. In an elevator system, an elevator shaft, a shaft door, a floor level thereat, an ele vator car, a floor level. therein, an air supply and conduits for the shaft, air operated devices for the car, conduits on the car leading to the air operated devices, and transfer devices between theshaft conduits and the car conduits tofpass compressed air from one to the other, including a member on the shaft and a member on the car, located to interconnect to transfer air, said transfer device on the shaft being located on the ground floor of the shaft.

4. In an elevator system, an elevator shaft, a shaft door, a floor level thereat, an elevator car, a floor level therein, an air supply and conduits for the shaft, air operated devices for the car, conduits on the car leading to the air operated devices, and transfer devices between the shaft conduits and the car conduits to pass compressed air from one tothe other,-including a member on the shaft and a member on the car, located to interconnect to transfer air, a support for one of said devices having a limited lateral freedom of movement, and a channel on the other member to receive it. v

5. The combination claimed in claim 4c, having flared sides.

6. The combination claimed in claim i, having flared sides at both ends.

7. In an elevator system, an elevator shaft, a shaft door, a floor level thereat, an elevator car, a floor level therein, an air supply and conduits for the shaft, air operated devices for the car, conduits on the car leading to the air operated devices, and transfer devices between the shaft conduits and the car conduits to pass compressed air from one to the other, including a member on the shaft and ,a member on the car, located to interconnect to transfer air, valve means on the car transfer member Within said range automatically opened in either direction of travel of said car.

8. The combination claimed in claim 1, having a plurality of valve means on the car transfer member Within said range automatically opened in either direction of travel of said car.

9. The combination claimed in claim 1, having a plurality of valve means on the car transfer member ithin said range automatically opened by superior pressure in the shaft transfer member, a valve in the shaft member engaged by a car member to open the valve to deliver air to the car transfer member.

10. The .com'bination claimed in claim 1 having plurality of valve means on the car transfer member Within said range automatically opened by superior pressure in the shaft transfer member, a valve in the shaft member engaged by the car transfer member to open the valve to deliver air to the car transfer member.

11. In an elevator system, an elevator shaft, a shaft door, a floor level thereat, an elevator car. a floor level therein, an air supply and conduits for the shaft, air operated devices for the car, conduits on the car leading to the air operated devices, and transfer devices between the shaft conduits and the car conduits to pass compressed air from one to the other, including a member on the shaft and a member on the car, located to interconnect to transfer air, having an air-tight shoe on the shaft member located to register with a valve on the other member, a valve in the shaft member located to supply air through said shoe, and an opening lever for said shaft valve to open the valve to deliver air to the car transfer member.

12. The combination claimed in claim 11, said transfer member being at points with in said range to register With the car valves.

13. The combination claimed in claim 11, said transfer member being at points Within said range to register with the car valves, and means to automatically close said shaft valves on leaving said car transfer device.

14:. The combination claimed in claim 11, said transfer member being at points Within said range to register With the car valves and said shaft valve located in the Wall of said channel.

15. In an elevator system, an elevator shaft, ashaft door, a floor level thereat, an elevator car, a floor level therein, an air supply and conduits for the shaft, air 0 erated devices for the car, conduits on the car leading to the air operated devices, and

Jransfer devices between the shaft conduits and the car conduits to pass compressed air from one to the other, including a member on the shaft and a member on the car, located to interconnect to transfer air, a sup: port for one of said devices having a limited lateral freedom of movement, a channel on the other member to receive it, valve means on the car transfer member Within said range automatically opened, and a valve in the shaft member, said shaft valve located in the Wall of the said channel, said car member supported against air pressure displacement by the channel Wall opposite said valve Wall.

16. The combination claimed in claim 15 and having means to supply film and lubricating liquid to said car member to increase erated devices for the car, conduits on the car leading to the an. operated devlces, and transfer devices between the shaft conduits and the car conduits to pass compressed air from one to the other, including a member on the shaft and a member on the car, located to interconnect to transfer air, and an air-tight shoe on one member located to register with a valve on the other member, a valve in the shaft member located to supply air through said shoe engaged by a ear member to open the valve to deliver air to the car transfer member, said air-tight shoe having a variable support towards the other member.

19. The combination claimed in claim 18, having a plurality of check valve means on the car transfer member within said range, automatically opened by superior pressure in the shaft transfer member, an air-tight shoe on the shaft member located to register with a valve on the other member automatically operated by the same ear member, a valve in the shaft member located to supply air through said shoe engaged by an air member to open the valve to deliver air to the car transfer member at points within said range to register with the car valves, said air-tight shoe having a variable sup port towards the other member and automatic means to cause it to form an air-tight connection therewith.

20. In an elevator system, an elevator shaft, a shaft door, a floor level thereat, an elevator car, a floor level therein, an air supply and conduits for the shaft, air operated devices for the car, conduits on the ear leading to the air operated devices, and transfer devices between the shaft conduits and the car conduits to pass compressed air from one to the other, including a member on the shaft and a member on the car, located to interconnect to transfer air, said air operated devices including a door opening device, and means on the car to operate said device including mechanical connection between said door at said floor level and said car engaged by said car. y

21. The combination claimed in claim being operated in conjunction with said transfer devices.

22. The combination claimed in claim 20,

20, air

beingoperated in conjunction with said air transfer devices at the point where said transfer devices register for the transfer of air.

23. The combination claimed in claim 20, being operated in conjunction with said air transfer devices at the point where said transfer devices register for the transfer of air, including a reservoir on the car connected to said air transfer devices.

24. In an elevator system, an elevator shaft, a shaft door, a floor level thereat, an elevator car, a floor level therein, an air supply and conduits for the shaft, air operated devices for the car, conduits on the car leading to the air operated devices, and trans fer devices between the shaft conduits and the car conduits to pass compressed air from one to the other, including a member on the shaft and member on the ear, located to interconnect to transfer air, additional elevator shafts, similarly equipped, air compression means to supply air to said shafts, a plurality of air pumps and one pump automatically operated by each car.

25. The combination claimed in claim 24 having said pump located stationary with relation to said shaft.

26. The combination claimed in claim 24,

said pump being located stationary with relation to said shaft, including a slip connection to avoid driving said pump in one direction of the cars travel.

27. The combination claimed in claim 24, said pump being driven by a continuous driving connection operated by the cars travel in the shaft.

28. The combination claimed in claim 24, having a common reservoir for said pumps.

29. In an elevator system, an elevator shaft, a shaft door, a floor level thereat, an elevator car, a floor level. therein, an air supply and conduits for the shaft, air operated devices for the car, conduits on the car leading to the air operated devices, and transfer devices between the shaft conduits and thecar conduits to pass compressed air from one to the other, including a member on the shaft and a member on the car, located to interconnect to transfer air, additional elevator shafts, similarly equipped, air compression means to supply air to said shafts, a plurality of air pumps and one pump automatically operated by each car having a common reservoir for said pumps, and automatic means for stopping and starting air delivery from said pumps controlled by pressure changes in said reservoir.

80. In an elevator our system, a shaft door, a motor to open and close it, a pump to supply power to said motor, two relatively movable members to communicate said power from the pump to the motor, said members comprising a stationary or shaft member, and the other comprising a reciproltlt) cating movable shoe or car member, means to cause one to make contact with the other, and automatic means to open communication between the two while in such contact.

31. The combination claimed in claim 30, having the door motor on a car, with interconnecting devices to engage a shaft door.

32. The combination claimed in claim 30 having the pump stationary.

33. A plurality of elevator cars having counter-balancing weights, a pump for each car operated by means connected to said car responsive only to the greater of the counterbalanced weights, a reservoir to receive pressure from said pumps, shaft doors for said cars, amotor operated with interconnecting mechanism from each car to open and close a shaft door, and means to convey power to said motors.

34*. The combination claimed in claim 33 having said motor on said car from which it is operated.

35. The'combination claimed in claim 33 having said pump stationary.

36. The combination claimed in claim 33 having an individual reservoir to supply air to operate said motor.

37. An elevator car, a door, a motor to open and close the door, a power developer, automatic means to operate it by the cars motion in one direction only, means to convey the power developed by the developer to the motor, and means under the control of the car operator to operate the motor.

38. The combination claimed in claim 37 having the motor on the car.

39. The combination claimed in claim 37 having the developer stationary.

40. In an air compression system, an air compressor, a reservoir receiving compressed air therefrom, a pressure regulator therefor including means operated by excess pressure to shut the intake of said air compressor.

ll. In combination, an elevator car, a cable connected to run therewith, top and bottom sheaves for said cable, a compressor adapt-ed to be driven by one of said sheaves, anda one-way clutch between said sheave and compressor to operate the latter when the car runs in one direction only.

42. The combination claimed in claim 41 including a tension and traction multiplying sheave associated with said compressor driving sheave.

43. In combination, a channel, a valve therein, a shoe to pass into said channel and open said valve, a hardened valve plate on said shoe, and a hardened tightener between said valve and valve plate.

4.4. The combination claimed in claim 43, having said shoe flat on its side and said valve plate at and secured to said shoe to facilitate ground air-tight joints.

45. In a system of transfer, a car, guideways therefor, a stationary door, an air operated door, opening and closing mechanism for opening said door for car traffic and closing it, operators handles on said car for said mechanism, a stationary air conduit, a receiving conduit on said car, an au tomatic interconnecting transfer means comprising a ear member and a stationary memher to pass air pressure from one conduit to the other, and means to cause said cars to travel bacx and forth along said guideways and to bring said transfer members into and out of registration.

46. The combination claimed in claim 45', said automatic transfer means having forms and engaging parts to operate to transfer air in both directions of car travel.

l7. In an elevator system, an elevator shaft, a shaft door, a floor level thereat, an elevator car, a floor level therein, an air supply and conduits for the shaft, air operated devices for the car, conduits on the car lead ing to the air operated devices, and transfer devices between the shaft conduits and the car conduits to pass compressed air from one to the other, including a member on the shaft and a member on the car, located to interconnect to transfer air, air compression means to supply air to said shafts, includ ing a pump having a driving connection to the car located at the top of the shaft, and counterweights for and heavier than the car to drive the air compressor as the car ascends.

This specification signed this 12th day of October A. D. 1922.

MYRON F. HILL. 

